The International Roma Day, marked on 8 April, is devoted to Europe's largest ethnic minority, the Roma, a predominant part of whom suffer from discrimination and isolation. This day also focuses on Roma history, culture, language and aspirations, which remain largely unknown in Europe; even though they are key to mutual understanding and can contribute to closing the gap between communities. This year, the Roma minority celebrates 50 years since the first World Romani Congress in 1971. The day is celebrated all around the world – from India through Europe to the Americas and the four corners of the globe. Romani are an itinerant ethnic group that originated from India. They have their own language and culture and they constantly fight for their recognition by the Indian government. For Romani people their extended families, their customs (called the Romanipen) as well as their religion are of great importance. The International Roma day was officially declared in 1990 in Serock, Poland, the site of the fourth World Romani Congress of the International Romani Union (IRU), in honour of the first major international meeting of Romani representatives, 7–12 April 1971 in Chelsfield near London.
Did you know?
- The Roma language, called Rromanës, is spoken by between five and six million people across Europe and the United States. It is distantly rooted in the Punjabi dialect spoken in Northern India, but also has words, phrases, and grammar associated with that of Byzantine Greek.
- According to genetic and historical evidence, the Roma left the Indian subcontinent approximately 1,500 years ago.
- The Romani are often celebrated for their musical heritage, which has influenced jazz, bolero and flamenco music, as well as classical composers including Franz Liszt.
If you are interested in practising your interpreting skills and learning more about the Romani culture and history (IT 23106, DE 29366), the Speech Repository is the best option. Let’s get started!
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Your Speech Repository Team